Securing device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a coupling device comprising a head portion having a base surface and a stud portion projecting from the head portion to pass through an opening of a rigid support sheet to which the device is to be secured. A bore for receiving a retaining pin extends through both the head and the stud portions and is inclined at such an angle as to guide the retaining pin into a tight contact with the bottom edge of the opening, thus retaining the stud portion in the support sheet.

United States Patent [151 3,641,728

Hallauer 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] SECURING DEVICE 2,605,869 8/l952 Backman ..52/499 [72] Inventor: Walter Hallauer, Schaffhausen, Switzer- I FOREIGN PATENTS O APPLICATIONS land 442, 9 l968 l d 2 4 8 73 Assignee: Swiss Aluminium um, Chippis, Switzer- 6 2 Swme' 5 l 9 land Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh [22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1969 AttorneyErnest F. Marmorek [21] App]. No.: 868,466

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign A li ati P i it D t Disclosed is a coupling device comprising a head portion having a base surface and a stud portion projecting from the head Nov. 18, 1968 Switzerland ..l72l 8/68 portion to pass through an opening Ofa rigid support Sheet to which the device is to be secured, A bore for receiving a retaining pin extends through both the head and the stud por- [58] Field .5'5/355401 476 and is inclined at Such an angle as guide the mining 52/397499; 85/DIG 7, pin into a tight contact with the bottom edge of the opening,

thus retaining the stud portion in the support sheet. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2,252,197 8/1970 Passer ..52/499 SECURING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to devices for securing metal sections to supports. It is particularly applicable to devices by which metal window-retaining sections may be secured in position on metal window frames without the use of screws.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION These window-retaining sections are commonly essentially channel-shaped, and can be secured in position by peglike devices each consisting of a head which engages within the channel and a stud which passes through an opening in the window frame. The head presents a plane surface to engage the window frame around the opening, and a bore is made through the device to receive a pin. In devices of this kind used hitherto the bore has been at right angles to the plane surface which makes contact with the window frame, and accordingly the pin must be driven through the bore by a hammer in a direction parallel to the windowpane. Now often the pane can be inserted only when the frame has been completely assembled, and accordingly the securing devices must be fitted on at least three sides after the pane has been put in position. There is a considerable risk of the pane being broken in the course of the hammering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, and object of the present invention, to provide a securing device which greatly reduces the risk during assembly as outlined above.

According to the invention a securing device of the kind described has a plane base surface which bears on a support and a stud projecting beyond this to pass through an opening in the support and is formed with a bore inclined at an angle of less than 90 to the plane surface and extending through both the head and the stud for the passage of the retaining pin, the tip of which can pass beneath and bear against the edge of the opening in the support.

The invention provides also for the combination of a support and such a securing device with the stud of the device passing through an opening in the support and a pin passed through the device and opening and bearing against the underedge of the opening.

The invention further provides an assembly of a metal window frame formed with openings, a plurality of such securing devices with their studs passing through the openings, pins passed through the securing devices and openings and bearing against the underedges of the openings, and a metal windowretaining section secured in position by the devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through one securing device according to the invention, showing a pin also;

FIG. 2 is a section through a window frame and shows in elevation the securing device of FIG. 1 in position;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to FIG. 2 showing a different form of the securing device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a metal window frame 2 includes a web 1 to which a channel-shaped metal section 8 must be secured to form a bead or strip along the edge of a windowpane 18, which is set in mastic not shown. Securing devices 4 are fixed in openings 3 which are provided at intervals along the web 1, and these and the section 8 must be com plementarily shaped so that the section may be secured into position. The devices 4 are made of a rigid material which should nevertheless have a flexibility so as to yield and thus allow the section 8 to be put in position after the devices have been fixed to the window frame. This material is preferably an essentially rigid but slightly resilient plastic. As shown in FIG. 2, the section 8 has an internal flange 10 which engages beneath a chamfered part 9 of the device 4.

The device 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed of a head portion 5 and a stud portion 6, all in one piece, the head portion 5 presenting a plane surface 7 to rest on the web 1 around the opening 3. The head portion 5 is rectangular in plan, and since the openings 3 are normally circular, the stud portion 6 is circular in cross section, but this is not essential and both opening 3 and stud portion 6 may be elliptical, rectangular or polygonal in cross section.

The devices 4 are traversed by a bore 12 which is inclined at an angle less than to the surface 7 and which receives a pin 13, the bore being of such diameter that the pin makes a tight fit in it when hammered home. The pin 13 is of such length that it projects beyond the bore 12, which is so located that pin 13 when driven home slides past and bears against the edge of the underside of the opening 3, thus projecting laterally from the surface 14 of the stud portion 6. The pin has a head 15 to enable it to be easily withdrawn if required despite its tight fit otherwise.

The stud portion 6 has a rib 11 which should extend at least around that side remote from the bore, and as shown in FIG. 2 extends completely around stud portion 6 except where that is interrupted'by the bore. This rib reduces the risk of the stud portion 6 slipping out of opening 3 during assembly, particularly in the case of overhead work. Moreover since stud portion 6 is pressed by the pin 13 against that side of opening 3 which is remote from the outlet of bore 12, rib 11 engages the underside of web 1 at this side of opening 3 and prevents the device 4 from tilting, as could happen if there were play between stud portion 6 and opening 3 and lateral pressure were exerted on head portion 5, for example, because of the pressure ofwind on the window.

Although head portion 5 preferably has the shape shown, it may have any other shape provided always that it presents a surface such as 7 to bear on web 1 or other support and is appropriately complementary to the section 8. The head portion 5 may indeed be a rectangular prismatic block, in which case the bore 12 should be be countersunk at its outer end so as to receive the head 15 of the pin 13.

However, as shown, the head portion 5 has a surface 16 which slopes in the opposite direction to bore 12, and indeed, preferably at right angles to the axis of bore 12. There is then no need to countersink the end of bore 12. As shown, the upper edge of surface 16 is defined by an upstanding back 17, which gives good support for section 8 and also gives some protection for the windowpane if a hammer used for driving home the pin 13 should slip upwardly. The back 17 need not extend completely across the body of head portion 5, but rather may, for example, be interrupted in the middle.

In the modification shown in FIG. 3, the section 8 is of different shape, and is put in position by movement towards instead of parallel to the windowpane 18 as it was the case with section 8 showing in FIG. 2. It has a somewhat longer rib 10', which engages beneath a surface 9' on head portion 5. In addition, section 8 has a flange 10" which is forced over and bears on a surface 9" at the top of the back 17. FIG. 3 also shows a rib l 1' extending only partly around stud portion 6.

The pressure exerted by pin 13 acts both parallel to the sur face of web 1 and perpendicular to it, so that the device 4 is always firmly seated even if in manufacture some dimensional differences occur in the thickness of web 1 or the diameter of opening 3.

While the invention has been explained and described with the aid of particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereby and that many modifications retaining and utilizing the spirit thereof without departing essentially therefrom will occur to those skilled in the art in applying the invention to specific operating environments and conditions. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A securing device connected to a rigid support having a closed periphery opening, comprising a head portion with a base surface matching a surface portion around said opening of said support sheet and a stud portion projecting from the base surface of said head portion passing through said opening in said rigid support,

said device having a bore receiving a retaining pin, said bore extending through both said head and said stud portion and being inclined at such an angle as to guide said retaining pin into a tight engagement with the bottom edge of said opening, thus causing said stud portion to be retained in said support.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said stud portion has a rib formed thereon at least around the side thereof remote from said bore for engagement with the underside of said support when mounted.

3. A device according to claim 1, in which said head portion has a surface which slopes in a direction opposite to the direction of said bore, said bore opening from said surface.

4. A device according to claim 3, in which said sloping surface lies at right angles to the axis of said bore.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said head portion comprises an upstanding back portion defining an upper edge of said sloping surface.

6. An assembly of a metal window frame formed with a plurality of openings, a device disposed in each of said openings for securing a window retaining means to said frame, said device comprising a head portion having a base surface bearing on said frame and a stud portion projecting from the head portion and passing through said opening in said frame, said device having formed a bore therethrough inclined at an angle of less than to said plane surface and extending through both said head portion and said stud portion for the passage of a retaining pin therein having a tip which can pass beneath and bear against an edge of said opening in the frame, said window retaining means comprising a lower retaining portion. said head portion comprising a receding lower retaining surface, said retaining portion of said window retaining means being in tight engagement with said retaining surface and said frame.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said window retaining means comprises an upper retaining portion, said head portion comprising a slant upper retaining surface and a straight back surface, said upper retaining portion snugly passing over said slant surface and resting over said straight back surface. 

1. A securing device connected to a rigid support having a closed periphery opening, comprising a head portion with a base surface matching a surface portion around said opening of said support sheet and a stud portion projecting from the base surface of said head portion passing through said opening in said rigid support, said device having a bore receiving a retaining pin, said bore extending through both said head and said stud portion and being inclined at such an angle as to guide said retaining pin into a tight engagement with the bottom edge of said opening, thus causing said stud portion to be retained in said support.
 2. A device according to claim 1, in which said stud portion has a rib formed thereon at least around the side thereof remote from said bore for engagement with the underside of said support when mounted.
 3. A device according to claim 1, in which said head portion has a surface which slopes in a direction opposite to the direction of said bore, said bore opening from said surface.
 4. A device according to claim 3, in which said sloping surface lies at right angles to the axis of said bore.
 5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said head portion comprises an upstanding back portion defining an upper edge of said sloping surface.
 6. An assembly of a metal window frame formed with a plurality of openings, a device disposed in each of said openings for securing a window retaining means to said frame, said device comprising a head portion having a base surface bearing on said frame and a stud portion projecting from the head portion and passing through said opening in said frame, said device having formed a bore therethrough inclined at an angle of less than 90* to said plane surface and extending through both said head portion and said stud portion for the passage of a retaining pin therein having a tip which can pass beneath and bear against an edge of said opening in the frame, said window retaining means comprising a lower retaining portion, said head portion comprising a receding lower retaining surface, said retaining portion of said window retaining means being in tight engagement with said retaining surface and said frame.
 7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said window retaining means comprises an upper retaining portion, said head portion comprising a slant upper retaining surface and a straight back surface, said upper retaining portion snugly passing over said slant surface and resting over said straight back surface. 